In order to preserve endangered plant populations and recover their evolutionary potential and ecological behaviour, some restoration measures generally involve the reinforcement of the population size in existing natural populations or the reintroduction of new populations. Genetic monitoring of both natural and restored populations can provide an assessment of restoration protocol success in establishing populations that maintain levels of genetic diversity similar to those in natural populations. The highly threatened Spanish species Silene hifacensis (Caryophyllaceae) has only three natural reduced mainland populations in the Iberian Peninsula, following decline and extinction occurred during the late 20 th century. Preterit restoration strategies were essentially based on the implantation of new populations and reinforcement of certain existing populations using transplants mostly cultivated in greenhouses. In the present contribution, levels and patterns of genetic variability within natural and restored populations of S. hifacensis were assessed using the molecular technique AFLP. Our results pointed out significant genetic diversity differences across the three existing natural populations though their population fragmentation and progressive loss of individuals have not had impact on the global genetic diversity of this species. For restored populations, their levels of genetic diversity were similar and even higher than in natural populations. As a result, the past restoration protocols were successful in capturing similar and even higher levels of genetic diversity than those observed within natural pools. However, inbreeding processes have been detected for two restored populations. Finally, the main source of plant material for the long-time restored transplants appears to be the natural population of Cova de les Cendres. This study demonstrates, once again, how genetic markers are useful tools to be taken in consideration for endangered plant species conservation plans.

No abstract

Some nomenclatural comments are reported on Sarcocornia perennis (Mill.) A. J. Scott (ϵ Salicornia perennis Mill.) (Amaranthaceae), a plant widely distributed in the saline areas of Western Europe and the Mediterranean basin. On the one hand, historical data on related taxa, including pre-Linnaean polynomials, are discussed. On the other, a neotype is selected to fix the use of the name, and a list of synonyms is also presented.

The recent description of Sarcocornia hispanica, from SE Iberian Peninsula evidences the notable morphological complexity of this genus. This species is quite close to S. fruticosa, as they both show an erect habit and lack of rooting stems. Besides, S. fruticosa has been traditionally recorded for the same geographical area of S. hispanica. However, the original description of S. hispanica did not include any mention about these two taxa would live together and which ones are the differential morphological characters. Our study aims to clarify their main morphological differences and to address two questions. Firstly, if two close species would be coexisting or secondly, if both species would not live together and then only one erect shrubby species should be recognised for the southeastern peninsular. Therefore, a detailed morphological study of these two species was carried out using vegetative and reproductive characters together with SEM features. Based on the original description, the main morphological features of S. hispanica were compared, plus other features which would support their identification. Our data pointed out the existence of a marked overlapping for most of the studied characters independently of the geographical procedence of the samples. As a result, no significant morphological differences have been found between both taxa, and S. hispanica is proposed as a mere synonym of S. fruticosa. La reciente descripción de Sarcocornia hispanica, para el sureste de la península ibérica, evidencia la notable complejidad morfológica de este género. Esta especie es muy próxima a S. fruticosa, ya que ambas tienen el hábito erecto y carecen de ramas enraizantes. Además, S. fruticosa ha sido tradicionalmente citada para la misma área geográfica de S. hispanica. Sin embargo, en la descripción original de S. hispanica no se indica si ambos taxones conviven y tampoco se aportan los caracteres morfológicos que los diferencian. El presente trabajo se centra en clarificar sus principales diferencias morfológicas, y dar respuesta a dos posibles hipótesis. En primer lugar, si estas dos especies coexisten, o en segundo lugar, ambas especies no convivirían y solo una especie arbustivas de hábito erecto, se reconocerían para el sureste peninsular. Para ello, se ha realizado un estudio morfológico detallado de ambas especies basado en diferentes caracteres vegetativos y reproductivos, junto con características obtenidas con MEB. Se han comparado los principales caracteres morfológicos indicados en la descripción original de S. hispanica, así como otros caracteres que apoyen la identificación de ambos taxones. Los datos obtenidos indican que la mayor parte de las características analizadas están solapadas entre ambas especies con independencia de su procedencia geográfica. Por tanto, no se han encontrado diferencias morfológicas entre ambos taxones, y se propone a S. hispanica como un sinónimo de S. fruticosa.